The Austin Swing Band swings into action Saturday night.

Friday, September 24, 1999

The Austin Swing Band swings into action Saturday night.

Fans of the Cedar River All-Stars Band won’t want to miss the weekend’s music: same personnel, new arrangements and new band name.

In other words, the best four beats to the bar music currently being played in Austin.

The Cedar River All-Stars Band was formed about six years ago and soon became a hit among audiences at the band’s infrequent concerts or dances.

John Law, pastor of the New Life Vineyard Christian Fellowship congregation, which uses the former Terp Ballroom in downtown Austin, has frequently booked the band for dances in the hallowed dance hall.

Henry Charles, the legendary bandleader, organized the band, which started out wanting to only be a "rehearsal band."

That’s how Bob Hart remembers the band’s beginnings.

"These were musicians, most of whom had played in other bands over the years, who just liked the music so much, they wanted to get together and develop the Big Band swing sound and rehearse," said Hart. "We didn’t want or expect to be playing in front of audiences."

The band played at the old Terp Ballroom for various fund-raisers, including the New Life’s own to restore the building.

They played at the annual summertime festival for which it was originally named and a few, a very few other events, preferring instead just to get together and rehearse.

That only worked so long before their services were in demand.

Now, the band plays 10 times a year and does not travel outside the Austin city limits for any gigs.

"We get together and rehearse three nights a month mainly," said Hart. "Last Saturday night, we played at the Austin Country Club for a 50th class reunion of the Austin High class of 1949. That was the first time we performed as the Austin Swing Band."

The original band leader, Henry Charles reduced his participation in the band two years ago and is no longer the leader, but the 12 band personnel who were there in the beginning remain with a few additions.

The original 12 members have added a half-dozen more.

The band also is aided by the talents of retired Austin Public Schools middle school band director Conrad Muzik and current Middle School band director, Tim Davis.

There are also musicians, who perform with the Austin Symphony Orchestra and an infusion of younger musicians, including one teenager, who came and went this summer.

There is also one — the band’s first — female member.

The Austin Swing Band includes saxophonists Duane Hanson, Chuck Hall, Ben Bednar, Bob Johnson and newest addition, Dick Alger.

On trombone are Don Watts, Jon Aronson and Craig Holmen.

Playing trumpet are Bob Hoeper, Conrad Muzik, Tim Davis and Clark Toland.

Norm Hanson plays drums and Maynard Hanson is bassist.

Sue Hays plays keyboards and Jim Ruud, guitar.

"Mostly, we play at class reunions, but we’ve also played at the Austin Symphony Orchestra Ball, done the annual Cotillion Club dance for three years in a row, played at the Country Club, played two concerts for the Paramount Theatre restoration project and played the SPAMTOWN USA Festival," said Hart.

The band has a new library of arrangements of swing/jazz classics by Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Glen Miller, Tommy Dorsey and Bennie Goodman, among others.

But, Hart emphasized, the old sound will have a new sound to it. "They all play because they really enjoy the music," said Hart. "It’s hard to define it sometimes. I’d say it was a combination of swing and jazz. Now, we have new arrangements to those great songs by so many great bands of the 1930s and 1940s."

Ben Bednar, a veteran member of the band, describes the changes as a "reorganization." He said, "We’re more of a swing now since the reorganization. The guys are very enthusiastic about playing this music and we all have fun."

Don Watts and Chuck Hall are the "deans" of the band’s members. They were playing the music when it burst on America’s collective conscience in the 1930s and 1940s.

Today, Big Band-cum-swing-cum-jazz music is, once again, being rediscovered by a new generation. The Brian Setzer Orchestra plays a modern form of the music on rock stations and television’s MTV.

That’s what the Austin Swing Band must do, according to Hart. "We have to play the Big Band sound like it should be played in 1999," he said.

Fans of the music will be able to judge for themselves, begging at 7:30 p.m. at the Terp-Vineyard Ballroom, 210 4th Street N.E.

Advance tickets are being sold at Nemitz’s or will be available at the door.

"These guys play for the pleasure of it," said Bednar.

The pleasure will be the listening and dancing audience’s Saturday night.